Chapter Six
Best fucking meal of his life and Davin couldn’t even tell you how the damned thing tasted. The whole time he remained transfixed on Morgan and her moaning around nearly every bite as she ate. Like some sort of pasta orgasm.
If he didn’t know any better, he might have thought it was some sort of trick to seduce him. But it wasn’t, and there was a large part of him that was disappointed.
The large part in his pants.
Davin shifted the front of his pants slightly as he paid for the meal. Sure, his raging hard-on would be easily spotted if he didn’t cool his jets. And given he’d already made a mistake even talking to Morgan, letting her know how much she affected him would be a downright catastrophe.
She stood just outside on the dark sidewalk staring absently at the stars overhead. She’d grown since he’d last seen her, being slightly taller and filled out in all the ways that screamed woman.
His cock twitched in his pants, and he cursed himself. It was a mistake to come and see her.
Every part of him knew that he shouldn’t be there, but still that didn’t change the hard truth: he had to see her. His plan had been to just drop by the shop and say hello, especially after the pep talk Finn had given him.
After all, if men like Finn, Noel, and Conor could find lasting happiness with a woman, why not him? At least that’s what he’d let himself think, but now he realized it wasn’t just about the job.
A good woman shouldn’t be with a man like him, a dangerous man who drifted with the winds to work for other dangerous men.
“Your change?” the waiter asked.
Davin shook his head, his eyes still on Morgan as she started to walk away.
“Keep it,” he said quickly, and made his way outside. With a few large steps, he was at her side.
“Thanks for dinner,” she said softly.
He cleared his throat. “I remembered you always did like Spomi. I thought they might know where to find you. Never guessed you’d be there.”
A soft smile played on her lips. “Sposami,” she said. “Marry me.”
His heart thumped hard in his chest, and he barely stopped himself from cursing. For the first time, Davin didn’t know what the hell to say.
Morgan turned to look at him and laughed. The look on his face must have said it all.
“It’s the name of the restaurant. Mr. and Mrs. Ricci met at a local carnival,” she said. “They had each gone with a group of friends. By the end of the night, he was professing his undying love to her and asked her to marry him. Sposami.” A soft sigh followed. “They are the closest thing I have to a family,” she said, and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m just babbling now. Too many glasses of wine.”
Davin cleared his throat. “They’re good people, but I hope you know you have more than them.”
Morgan looked at him, her eyes glazed over from the wine, cheeks pink and lips red. “I do?”
Christ, the way she breathed out the phrase made his lower half unbearably hard. He strained against the zipper of his pants.
“You have me.”
They turned the corner next to the book store, encountering a set of stairs there. Morgan stopped just at the bottom to stare at him.
“You left,” she said flatly. “You left for six years.”
He stepped forward and placed a palm against her cheek. Her perfume filled his nose, and all the things he’d tried to forget came flooding back.
“That doesn’t change the fact that I’m always here if you need me.”
She nibbled her lip, and he couldn’t help but watch. Every part of him wanted to capture it between his teeth and tease the tender flesh.
Morgan shook her head. “I needed you when Aunt Dee passed.”
Tears filled her eyes, and a piece of him broke inside. He couldn’t tell her that the reason he couldn’t come was because he was in the hospital, that he’d been shot in a raid on a local gang, and there was no way to come back without putting her in serious danger.
Davin leaned his forehead against hers. “I wanted to be here,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t.”
Her head turned slightly, and her lips brushed against his. The hunger he’d been holding all this time pulsed in his body.
Damn it. He was so tired of pushing her away when he wanted her. He thought he’d been doing the right thing, even the honorable thing, but he still hurt her.
Screw it. If he were going to screw up either way, then he’d choose the path that he’d enjoy more.
Davin tilted his head and placed a soft kiss against her lips.
For a moment, he thought she might push him away. It might disappoint him, but she was right. He’d been gone for a long time.
Morgan brought her hands against his chest as if to push him before balling them into fists. She tilted her head and pressed her lips firmly against his. Surprise exploded through him like lightning.
Davin groaned. The hand at her cheek threaded into her soft brown hair as he angled her slightly. His lips pressed brutally against hers.
There was no way a person like him should even have the chance to kiss a woman like Morgan, but he was already too far in. She was like a drug, and he needed more. So much more.
Davin moved forward and pressed her hard against the bookstore wall. Their bodies now pressed tightly together.
He tried to tell himself this was why he needed to stay away from her, but passion ate the thought.
One hand at his chest moved around to the back of his neck as her mouth opened slightly. It was all the opening he needed.
He wanted her. She wanted him.
Davin slipped his tongue into her mouth. The sweet taste of wine was still on her lips. He met her tongue with his own. Surprise struck him when she moved with him, drawing him further into her. Her tongue twined with his.
Her hips moved suddenly against his, and Davin grunted loudly at the feel of her moving against his hard cock. Delicious torture.
He’d wanted her for so long. Wanted to feel her in his arms. And now it was happening.
Something snapped inside his head.
Davin pulled his mouth away from her.
No. It couldn’t happen. She had been drinking. Morgan wasn’t thinking straight. If she were, she’d know that being with a guy like him was not at good idea at all.
It didn’t matter what he wanted. If he cared for her, he’d have to sacrifice to protect her, even if it was from him.
Davin stared down at her. Her eyes were still glazed over, lips swollen with his kiss, and cheeks flushed.
“Why did you—” she began.
“I should let you get inside,” he said quickly, making sure to move his body far enough away that there was no chance his traitorous lower half couldn’t continue the conversation.
Morgan opened her mouth to say something but closed it. After a moment, she gave a nod.
“Goodnight, Davin,” she said softly before making her way up the stairs.
He watched her until she disappeared inside the place and a light inside came on.
“Goodnight, Morgan.”
The words came out, but just barely. The gravel in his voice made it clear that he still struggled to reign in his emotions.
Davin hurried back to his car. He couldn’t do this again. Couldn’t let himself pull her down with him. The whole thing had been a mistake.
He glanced over to the light over the bookstore. He could see her moving around in her living room and touched a finger to his lips.
He cursed.
The problem with knowing just what kissing her felt like was that no dream would ever measure up again.
Davin sighed. Seemed like torture was his middle name.